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He Recovers At Lower Altitude, Lands Plane

A woman flying with her husband in an SR22 from California to
Colorado had to take the controls of the aircraft when he
experienced breathing problems. Fortunately, this story has a happy
ending.

SR22 File Photo

An air traffic controller contacted the aircraft just after noon
local time and noticed the 70-year-old pilot was having trouble
breathing. The controller lost contact with the Cirrus, but
eventually the wife came back on the radio to say her husband had
become "incapacitated." The couple was reportedly flying under IMC
conditions in heavy clouds.

The woman was assisted by the Longmont air traffic controller,
as well as the pilot of a Great Lakes Airlines aircraft, who talked
her through the procedure establishing a controlled descent. Though
at one point the Cirrus swerved towards mountainous terrain, the
controller was able to get the plane and its occupants back on
course.

The woman, who has not been identified, told television station
KCNC in Denver that she was "terrified" when she had to take
control of the aircraft. She said she considered killing the
airplane's engine and deploying the emergency parachute.

As the aircraft descended through 10,000 feet the pilot, who has
also not been identified, recovered, and landed without further
incident.